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Epistles of Ignatius

Chapter XII.--Praise of the Ephesians.

I know both who I am, and to whom I write. I am a condemned man, ye have been the objects of mercy; I am subject to danger, ye are established in safety. Ye are the persons through ¹ whom those pass that are cut off for the sake of God. Ye are initiated into the mysteries of the Gospel with Paul, the holy, the martyred, the deservedly most happy, at whose feet ² may I be found, when I shall attain to God; who in all his Epistles makes mention of you in Christ Jesus.

I know both who I am, and to whom I write. I am the very insignificant Ignatius, who have my lot with ³ those who are exposed to danger and condemnation. But ye have been the objects of mercy, and are established in Christ. I am one delivered over [to death], but the least of all those that have been cut off for the sake of Christ, "from the blood of righteous Abel" ⁴ to the blood of Ignatius. Ye are initiated into the mysteries of the Gospel with Paul, the holy, the martyred, inasmuch as he was "a chosen vessel;" ⁵ at whose feet may I be found, and at the feet of the rest of the saints, when I shall attain to Jesus Christ, who is always mindful of you in His prayers.

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Die sieben Briefe des Ignatius von Antiochien (BKV)

12. Kap. Lob der Epheser, an deren Stadt die vorbeikommen, die dem Tode für Christus entgegengehen.

1. Ich weiß, wer ich bin und wem ich schreibe. Ich bin verurteilt, ihr habt Gnade gefunden; ich bin in Gefahr, ihr seid gefestigt. 2. Ihr seid (= eure Stadt ist) der Durchgangspunkt für die, die (getötet werden, dass sie) zu Gott gelangen, ihr seid die Miteingeweihten des Paulus, der geheiligt, gemartert worden ist, des hochseligen, auf dessen Pfaden ich erfunden werden möchte, wenn ich zu Gott gelange, der in einem ganzen Briefe euer gedenkt in Christus Jesus.